http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: DIY - Recent Topics en Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:10:17 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/studio-reno-need-some-suggestions#post-74196 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:54:20 +0000 Shawn Speller 74196@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hey all,</p> <p>I am new here, and fairly new to the business. The company I work for is looking to do improvements to their small studio and I have been elected to spearhead the project. I have looked around on the net a bit for some of the items we were looking into getting and I thought I would try here to see what your suggestions are.</p> <p>What we are looking into getting is...</p> <p>1. Tile flooring (suggestions on what I should be looking for, what I should avoid? We are hoping to be able to paint the tiles chroma green/black/white when needed)</p> <p>2. Track/rail for curtains (a cyc) ( what should I be looking for? Do I have to get the rails from a video equipment dealer or is there a cheaper more readily available choice?</p> <p>3. Looking to put up a grid for small studio lights (What should I be looking for and where? Just at the local hardware store?</p> <p>4. Sound proofing for a small v/o studio and in the main part of the studio (Should I go with sound proofing blankets/foam made for that or can I get away with hardware store items?)</p> <p>5. Blacking out windows (Paint, stick on vinyl, what else, what would be the best option?)</p> <p>6. Paint (What is my best choice, obviously matte but is there something I may miss?)</p> <p>Thanks ahead of time for any response, it is greatly appreciated. I can't wait to get this project going, I will have to post some before and after pictures at a later date!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dyi-dslr-rig#post-66858 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:08:30 +0000 Don 66858@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>pay $200.00 cdn....</p> <p><img src="http://www.vistek.ca/prodimglarge/250393.jpg" height="420" width="420" /></p> <p>or.....</p> <p>pay $15.00...</p> <p><img src="http://www.tecnocem.com/image/halogen-projectors/halogen-lamp-4082.jpg" height="388" width="400" /></p> <p>remove the lamp, bolt on a tripod quick release plate....</p> <p>perfect for low angle shooting...</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/lighting-a-greenscreen-a-la-guerrillera-style#post-68572 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:18:03 +0000 SargeHero 68572@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello Videomaker community</p> <p>I wrote an article in my blog about lighting a green screen using the guerrilla approach. </p> <p>Here is the English version: <a title="Lighting a Greenscreen a la Guerrillera Style" href="http://xeneuxe.com/lomaymi/lighting-a-greenscreen-a-la-guerrillera-style/">Lighting a Greenscreen a la Guerrillera Style</a></p> <p>Here is the Spanish version: <a title="Alumbrando una pantalla verde a la guerrilla" href="http://xeneuxe.com/lomaymi/es/lighting-a-greenscreen-a-la-guerrillera-style/">Alumbrando una pantalla verde a la guerrilla</a></p> <p>Enjoy</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/100-3d-beamsplitter#post-67602 Sun, 01 May 2011 12:53:29 +0000 composite1 67602@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I recently wrote an article for VM Mag about a 'Mad Genius' DIY 3D camera rigger. I've just found another who is currently putting together a 3D Beam Splitter for around $100. Used primarily for close-ups during 3D shoots, a beam splitter uses a special piece of glass called '50/50' that acts as a prism and splits the light coming off your subject to be recorded by two cameras at a 90 degree angle. These rigs made professionally, cost a year or more worth of college tuition. To find one at $100 is very intriguing!</p> <p>Check out Jesse Blanchard's video on the first stages of his build. It looks very promising.</p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/22862540">$100 3D Beamsplitter Rig</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/jesseblanchard">Jesse Blanchard</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/global-competition-win-10000-of-video-camera-equipment#post-57136 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 01:37:19 +0000 Era-Official 57136@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>&lt;span&gt;ERA are on a quest to find a new film making talent. You could win<br /> $10,000 of video camera equipment by creating a brand new video for the track Ameno. The competition is open worldwide. Enter the<br /> competition at:</p> <p>&lt;/span&gt;<a title="Era Competition - win $10,000 of video camera equipment" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK514_vQdDg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK514_vQdDg</a></p> <p>Good luck! </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/ghetto-lighting#post-54711 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:58:49 +0000 composite1 54711@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Many posts have come from newbies and intermediates about 'What lights should I get'. As always the 'sweat factor' is high and most of the posters are either ready to run out and sell the farm for a kit they aren't ready for or completely shut down from being so depressed they can't afford pro lights. Well many of the pro's particularly myself have talked at length about how until you've got both the expertise and jobs coming in to justify the move to pro lighting you can do a very good job lighting on the cheap.</p> <p>So I'm going to let young Caleb Pike show you his 'ghetto lighting' setup. He doesn't call it that, I do. Because it was done rather nicely with stuff anyone can buy in the hardware dept. or at a garage sale. Now he does 'cheat' in that he's using a Canon 7D SLR, but the techniques he's using will work for your 'happy cam' too!</p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8985600">Affordable Lighting Techniques for Interviews</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/calebpike">Caleb Pike</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <p>NOTE: There are a couple of safety issues with his setup that I would make these changes;</p> <p>1. Do not use wax paper with tungsten lighting. It will burn. A much better looking (and safer) alternative is Vellum Paper. I've used it with both Halogen and Tota Lights and it is very tough. You can buy it in any decent craft store.</p> <p>2. When using foil with lighting especially shop lights with Halogen bulbs, double if not triple up the sheets to help dissipate the heat. </p> <p>3. Use thick leather work gloves when handing hot lights.</p> <p>4. Unless you've got a lot of space between walls and Halogen lighting, I suggest you use something else. Halogen work lights are the Indy filmmaker's workhorse but they get really hot and if the bulb bursts you've got problems. Using them in large spaces or outdoors is okay.</p> <p>5. Try fluorescent bulbs. Many of the bulbs made now can fit into standard light fixtures, they're inexpensive and they range from 40w (equivalent) to 250w (equivalent). They light much cooler than traditional lighting and they come in indoor and daylight intensities (indoor 22-2300K, daylight 6500K).</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/diy-track-dolly#post-55880 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:18:12 +0000 Derek Sine 55880@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>A cheap alternative to the other track rigs that cost several hundreds of dollars.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Track &amp; Dolly:</p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8857717" rel="nofollow">http://vimeo.com/8857717</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Sample Footage:</p> <p><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/8803312" rel="nofollow">http://www.vimeo.com/8803312</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-to-make-an-infinite-white-background-cheap#post-51485 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:55:52 +0000 composite1 51485@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>From the Matrix's 'Construct' to Auto Trader's 'Virtural Dealership' to those weenie Mac commercials, the Infinite white background signifies an expensive and professionally made film/video production. Now you too for a fraction of what it would cost the pros can make your own Infinite White Background. Check out this video from Videopia to see how.</p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/789519">Lighting Infinite White</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/videopia">Videopia</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/5-follow-focus#post-55474 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:52:26 +0000 composite1 55474@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Always on the lookout for innovative workarounds for the indie filmmaker, I came across this video by Matt S for a $5 Follow Focus rig.</p> <p>For those of you unfamiliar with film production, a follow focus is basically a device to help you set focus on manual lenses. Mostly used with prime film production lenses, they can also be used with manual capable video lenses and photographic still lenses. Follow focus is very useful for setting up focus points on your lens so when you're shooting you will already have your points established and won't have to keep guessing where to turn your focus ring.</p> <p>These rigs can cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars, so to find a credible unit for $5 bucks made me crack up. Now for a major shoot using real-world equipment, I wouldn't recommend a $5 FF. But....</p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9451360">$5 DIY Follow Focus</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mattsfilms">Matt S</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/great-diy-website#post-49130 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:28:35 +0000 jerronsmith 49130@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I ran into a very interesting DIY web site called <a title="click to launch website in a new window" href="http://www.instructables.com">instructables.com</a>.</p> <p>Basically, people upload step by step instructions on how to create a very wide range of things. Some of the projects are quite mundane, while others are very sophisticated.</p> <p>There is a tutorial there on making a fig rig using only PVC piping, several on making camera dollys, jibs and cranes, and several on making specialized tripods.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/diy-video-switcher-out-of-existing-pc#post-41411 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:41:33 +0000 tedbragg 41411@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I have a slowly dying Videonics switcher, and would like to use a spare Vista machine as a switcher/recorder.</p> <p>I have three cameras fed into the switcher via s-video to tape live events and church services. Audio is run from a mixer board. What I'm thinking of doing is putting three or four PCI tv tuner cards into the PC -- but i'm not sure if one PC can handle that many.</p> <p> What I'd really like to find is like the Canopus boards we used to have when I worked for Charter Cable. Four inputs on one card, onscreen previews of the video feeds in an easy to use switching program. This was back in the days of Win98 and Pentium II 266Mhz and only 256megs of ram. If that clunker could handle that, surely there's stuff out now that can do it, too.</p> <p>The Canopus boards are no longer around -- they were old when I got to use them. VidBlaster software is a reasonablepackage to handle multiple sources -- the only issue I'm faced with is getting those analog sources into the computer.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dimmers-on-work-lights#post-38319 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:17:05 +0000 OppidianRyan 38319@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>A lot of people suggest getting halogen work lights for their lighting kit. I was wondering if anyone has tried using them with a dimmer. I have two old theatical lights but wanted to suplement them and was thinking of making a DIY dimmer pack with rehostats and such. Any comments or ideas?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/microphone-boom-complete#post-37971 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:07:41 +0000 ralck 37971@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>So today I <em>finally</em> finished my microphone boom!  Since I'm super low budget and microphone booms cost a lot of money, I used a DIY design I found online using a light bulb changer kit and some hardware.</p> <p>Sure, it's not as light weight as professional ones, and I have to wrap the mic cable around the outside instead of having it inside, but I also paid a metric crapton less. :)  I gave it a quick try this afternoon and it works quite well, so I'm happy so far.</p> <p>I can finally un-mount my shotgun mic from my camera... although now I need to find a boom op. :-P</p> <p>Anywho, just so you don't have to search for it, here's what I used:</p> <ul> <li>Light bulb changer with attachable heads - The DIY suggested Bayco, but I just got one from a local hardware store.  I think the Bayco ones only extend to about 10 feet, but mine goes to 16. :-P</li> </ul> <ul> <li>3/8"-16 by 1.5" bolt - standard bolt.  My dad convinced me to pay a little more for the stainless steel version instead of the zinc plated to make sure it doesn't rust or anything.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>3/8" washer</li> </ul> <ul> <li>3/8" nut - My dad convinced me to get the kind with the plastic washer to make sure it doesn't come loose.</li> </ul> <p>I used the suction cup head to make mine.  I took off the suction cup piece (a simple screw held it on in my case) and drilled out the hole so it was big enough for the bolt.  Then I put the bolt in, tightened it down with the nut, and put it on the telescoping pole from the light changing kit.  Simple as that!  My microphone shockmount connects directly to the 3/8" bolt and I think you know the rest. :)</p> <p>Well I'm quite impressed with it... but for about 20 bucks it's hard to not be impressed. :-P  I can post some pics if people want.</p>